The Embankment: 1874

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The Embankment, 1874: oil on canvas. This view looks east from the terrace of Somerset House, near Waterloo Bridge. In the foreground, the newly completed Victoria Embankment can be seen. On the right, beyond Blackfriars Bridge, is Cannon Street Station (completed in 1866). The panorama is similar to Canaletto's views of London from the same vantage point, painted in the 1740s. Once the embankment was completed, the river appeared much narrower. Initially, Hansom cabs and horse carts found little use for Victoria Embankment, as there were few destinations along its route where passengers needed to be taken or goods dropped off. Gradually, it came to be used as a fast route between Westminster, the West End and the City.